"During a visit to the so-called Socialist Christmas Fair 2013, organized by the government in a central area of Caracas, Maduro exchanged a few words with actors posing as the Three Kings, sang traditional Venezuelan Christmas songs and witnessed the sale of typical holiday food and items.

"The surprising announcement came a week after the creation of the new cabinet post of Deputy Minister of Supreme Happiness, which was greeted with jeers. Now critics say that with his generous Christmas measure, President Maduro is trying to ease off growing discontent over the country's economic crisis, food shortages and the spike of crime in Caracas."

In video posted by BBC Mundo, a jolly Maduro says that an early Christmas is the best vaccine for whoever wants to start "rioting and violence."

If you were cynical, you might think happiness may not be Maduro's only objective with this calendar switcheroo.